<h4>Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Hidden Agendas</h4>
Author’s pov
Luna Regina looked worried, and Alpha Yardley noticed it right away.
"Let’s be honest," he said, leading her into the garden behind their house.
He ced a hand on her waist, a small touch that still made her smile after all these years.
"If Sebastian really likes Cecilia," Alpha Yardley asked, "could you ept her?"
"I’m not a hypocrite," she said finally, voice calm but firm.
"When other werewolves date outside the pack, I say it’s their choice. But for our son? He’s the future Alpha of Silver Peak. That’s different."
Normally, Luna Regina didn’t interfere in Sebastian’s love life. If the girl was kind and he truly cared, she wouldn’tin.
But deep down, she’d always hoped he would choose someone from within the pack—someone who understood their ways, theirws, their legacy.
"Didn’t you once say you’d be happy as long as she wasn’t a criminal or a vampire?"
Luna Regina let out a softugh and nudged his arm. "Every parent wants the best for their child."
Then her smile faded.
"I’m not saying Cecilia’s a bad person. Liam told me a bit about her. She’s strong—resilient even. I truly hope she finds peace."
"Just not with our son," Alpha Yardley said, raising a brow.
Luna Regina sighed, guilt flickering across her face.
"Okay, maybe I’m being unfair. But don’t pretend you’d be fine with it either. Sebastian isn’t just some kid in love. He’s the next Alpha. The entire pack is watching him. The Elders are already nervous. If he chooses a human woman—someone outside the bloodline, outside the tradition—they’ll question everything."
Alpha Yardley ’s smile faded too.
His tone turned thoughtful."You’re right. His choices carry weight now. They always have."
He reached over, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"But maybe we’re overthinking it. Maybe it’s nothing serious. Didn’t you already line up a few strong young she-wolves for him to meet?"
Luna Regina nodded slowly.
But the unease in her chest wouldn’t go away.
Xavier
I had the social contact information and phone number for Alpha Sebastian.
So when I awoke with a pounding headache fromst night’s drinking, the first thing I saw was that damn post.
Strawberry mousse cake.
My vision nearly turned red with fury.
That brand, that vor—it was Cecilia’s absolute favorite!
The word MATE shed through my mind before I painfully remembered:
[We had signed the divorce papers yesterday. She was no longer my Luna. We were over. I had lost her forever... The emptiness inside me felt bottomless. And then that fucking strawberry cake twisted the knife deeper.]
The divorce papers were barely dry, and she was already throwing herself into Alpha Sebastian’s arms?
After what she’d promised me?
Rage and jealousy coursed through my veins.
I grabbed a burner phone and called her—she’d blocked my regr number and all my social media ounts, leaving me no other way to reach her.
I asked someone to get me a new phone with a new card and dial the familiar number.
When she answered with a cautious "Hello?", I couldn’t contain myself.
"Is this how you keep your promises?" I snarled.
"You’re quite the actress, Cecilia! Couldn’t you have waited just a few more days before rushing into another Alpha’s bed—"
She hung up.
I stared at the silent phone, my chest heaving.
The wolf,Kael inside me wed to be released, wanting nothing more than to hunt them down and reim what was mine.
Author’s pov
Cecilia massaged her temples after ending the call.
She’d clearly overestimated Xavier’s maturity.
His intermittent fits of possessiveness were exhausting, especially now that they were officially divorced.
Both Alpha Sebastian and Beta Sawyer had heard Xavier’s furious outburst—particrly the word DIVORCE that had echoed through the car’s interior.
While Beta Sawyer looked surprised by this revtion, Alpha Sebastian maintained hisposed demeanor.
He’d already known about their divorce proceedings from his sources.
An ufortable silence filled the car.
Cecilia turned her face toward the window, watching the concrete walls of the underground parking garage slide past.
They had arrived.
The three of them exited the vehicle and headed toward Alpha Sebastian’s private elevator.
Beta Sawyer took Cecilia through the onboarding process, providing her with security clearance cards and a tour of thepany.
He introduced her to the various departments and executive floors she’d be interacting with regrly.
Word of Cecilia’s employment spread through Silver Peak’s offices faster than free donuts in the break room.
"Wait—she’s the Cecilia from the Blood Moon Pack?" whispered Kelly from Finance, peeking over her cubicle wall like a meerkat.
"Yep," said Mark from Marketing, not even pretending to work. "Headhunted. Straight from the top floor of Blood Moon’s tower. I heard Alpha Sebastian offered double her sry."
"Triple," chimed in Jane from HR, swirling her tea like it held secrets. "And a private parking spot."
"Pfft. Please." Evan from IT rolled his eyes. "She probably put him under some enchantress spell. I mean, have you seen her? She’s like if Vogue and a perfume ad had a love child."
Right on cue, Cecilia walked past the ss-walled hallway in a navy pencil skirt and heels that clicked like punctuation marks.
Conversations paused. Mouths hung slightly open.
"Holy moon goddess," whispered someone. "She makes Excel spreadsheets look sexy."
Mark leaned in. "Still think Alpha Sebastian’s into men?"
"I mean..." Evan scratched his head. "We all?saw?Cassian from the Locke family show up with flowers."
"Oh my god, I LIVED for that," Jane gasped. "He had a bouquet. A whole-ass bouquet! With peonies and everything!"
"Wait, isn’t the Locke family that weird neutral n out in Colorado Springs?" Kelly asked, blinking. "The human one that deals with supernatural politics?"
"Yup," Mark nodded. "They’re not even part of the Five Major Packs. They’re like, what do you call it—guardians? Overseers? They manage the human-werewolf rtions or whatever."
"So Cassian’s not even a wolf?" Evan asked, stunned.
"Nope. Just devastatingly attractive and disgustingly well-dressed," Jane said dreamily.
"And apparently, tight with our Alpha ," Kelly added, wiggling her eyebrows.
"And he touched the Alpha Sebastian ’s shoulder," Kelly added again, eyes wide. "Lingering. That’s not a handshake touch. That’s a ’we’ve shared a bed’ touch."
"Okay but then why is he defending Cecilia like that?" asked Evan. "He literally froze Shadow Pack’s loans for her."
"Because he’s chivalrous," Jane said primly. "Or maybe... he’s bi."
"Plot twist: secret throuple," Mark quipped, sipping his coffee like it was tea.
Jane pped. "YES! Alpha Sebastian, Cassian, and Cecilia—power polycule energy! I support it."
Meanwhile, two junior analysts were whispering in the copy room.
"Did you hear? Her ex-mate dumped her for some baby-faced ."
"Idiot. If she were mine, I’d bolt the doors and never leave the house."
"You’d be lucky if she even looked at you," someone muttered.
Across the hall, two female employees exchanged looks.
"Men," one said.
"Empty-headed," the other replied.
Everyone went quiet as Alpha Sebastian passed by, expression unreadable, suit wless, energy cold andmanding.
As soon as he disappeared into his office, the buzz resumed—twice as loud.
...
Beta Sawyer opened the door and smiled. "This will be your office," he said.
The room wasrge and quiet.
Sunlight came in through the big windows, shining on a clean wooden desk.
There were a few paintings on the walls and everything looked modern and neat.
Cecilia walked in slowly.
Her high heels made soft sounds on the shiny floor.
She looked around, surprised by how nice the office was.
Beta Sawyer spoke again. "The secretarial department used to be on this floor, but Alpha Sebastian wanted peace and quiet, so he moved them. You’ve already met them. From now on, you’ll be in charge of that team."
Cecilia nodded. "I understand."
Beta Sawyer pointed across the hallway. "My office is on the other side of Alpha Sebastian’s. If you need help, just let me know."
He turned to leave, but then stopped at the door. "One more thing," he said. "There are only three people on this floor—me, you, and Alpha Sebastian."
Cecilia raised her eyebrows. "Just three?"
Beta Sawyer nodded. "Yes. The Alpha doesn’t like too many people around. No one is allowed in his office without permission. So we often take care of small things ourselves. The job can be... a bit stressful."
Cecilia gave a small smile, but it looked a little tight. "Please don’t tell me I have to vacuum his office too."